A stone cottage in Baltimore's Homeland neighborhood sold recently for $500,000 in a short sale. The 85-year-old home, with its steeply pitched roof, gables and dormers, sits on a beautifully landscaped quarter of an acre. "The architecture is lovely, with its stone exterior and a screened-in porch in the back," said buyer's agent Ashley Richardson of Long & Foster Real Estate. "The rooms are a good size with high ceilings and easy furniture placement. The house needs some exterior paint, but [the buyers]

A circular driveway leads to the main entrance of 8203 Cranwood Court in Stevenson - a home with all the hallmarks of midcentury architectural design. The listing price is $599,000. The structure of stone, wood and glass sits on a half-acre of wooded property. The abundance of windows brings the outdoors inside, changing the decor with the seasons. "What strikes me most about this exquisite home is the very livable, contemporary floor plan, with open spaces, soaring ceilings and huge windows," said Long & Foster Real Estate listing agent Ashley Richardson.

Those in the market for a Victorian home with a wide, wraparound porch will jump at the chance to tour 412 Hawthorne Road. in the city's Roland Park neighborhood. With an asking price of $685,000, this turn-of-the-century gem has been beautifully maintained and is ready to move into. "The current owners have put $100,000 into the house in the last 21/2 years," said listing agent Ashley Richardson, with Long & Foster real estate. "They love the house and the location, but they have to go out of state.

Those in the market for a Victorian home with a wide, wraparound porch will jump at the chance to tour 412 Hawthorne Road. in the city's Roland Park neighborhood. With an asking price of $685,000, this turn-of-the-century gem has been beautifully maintained and is ready to move into. "The current owners have put $100,000 into the house in the last 21/2 years," said listing agent Ashley Richardson, with Long & Foster real estate. "They love the house and the location, but they have to go out of state.

A circular driveway leads to the main entrance of 8203 Cranwood Court in Stevenson - a home with all the hallmarks of midcentury architectural design. The listing price is $599,000. The structure of stone, wood and glass sits on a half-acre of wooded property. The abundance of windows brings the outdoors inside, changing the decor with the seasons. "What strikes me most about this exquisite home is the very livable, contemporary floor plan, with open spaces, soaring ceilings and huge windows," said Long & Foster Real Estate listing agent Ashley Richardson.

Instead of visiting country manor homes that are occasionally open to the public, here is an opportunity to own an estate in northern Baltimore County. Nestled on 50 acres of bucolic pastures and agricultural land, Alistatim Farm , in the heart of My Lady's Manor — a national historic district near Monkton — presents dramatic views for every season. Long summer days can be spent by the pool, while autumn mornings call out for a bit of competing in the dressage ring. "A seven-stall barn comes complete with hay storage, fly-spraying system and tack room," noted Ashley Richardson, a Long & Foster agent who listed the property.

The sale of 6520 Banbury Road just north of the Baltimore City line for $425,000 proves that the right house for the right couple can come along when least expected. The seller of this Cape Cod in the Idlewylde neighborhood contacted realtor Ashley Richardson of Long & Foster Real Estate to see if she knew of anyone that would be interested in buying. "Two days later, I met a couple … who were newly married, and they told me what they were looking for," said Richardson. "I said, 'I think I have just the house.' " There was an initial visit, then a week passed.

Tudor charm is in abundance at 711 Chumleigh Road in the Baltimore County neighborhood of Stoneleigh. Sitting on almost a quarter of an acre, this white stucco home is being offered for $889,000. "This is one of the finest examples of a Stoneleigh home that has been lovingly renovated and restored," said listing agent Ashley Richardson with Long & Foster Real Estate. "Such incredible care was taken to perfect every detail, down to the repointing of the stonework, the slate roof on the addition and the copper flashing.

By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest and Nancy Jones-Bonbrest,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | February 13, 2000

If you want to know what it's like to live in Wiltondale -- a neighborhood nestled within the greater Towson community -- just listen to Richard Peyton, who moved there 11 years ago. "My wife knew about the neighborhood because her aunt and uncle raised eight children here. She always said that someday we would live in Wiltondale," Peyton said. "We had friends that lived here, and they invited us down one day to the neighborhood pool for a crab feast. And that is really what sold us. What we saw that day was this incredible neighborhood feeling that was just so much a part of the party."

The top-ranked Severna Park softball team has developed a character-building trend that it saves for the later innings: hit a snag, then come back with a bang. After visiting and No. 5 Pallotti finally broke through with a run in the sixth yesterday to tie the game, the Falcons' bats went to work in the bottom of the inning, turning four hits into four runs for a 5-1 victory. Kristen Wojtowycz had the biggest hit, a two-run double to right-center that broke the 1-1 tie, and pitcher Kaila Jenkins went on to strike out Pallotti's side in the seventh to finish with 12 strikeouts in the four-hit win. "We've come back in a couple games this season - I think three times - and that's something we never did last year, so it shows a lot," said Jenkins, who also had an RBI single in the sixth.

A stone cottage in Baltimore's Homeland neighborhood sold recently for $500,000 in a short sale. The 85-year-old home, with its steeply pitched roof, gables and dormers, sits on a beautifully landscaped quarter of an acre. "The architecture is lovely, with its stone exterior and a screened-in porch in the back," said buyer's agent Ashley Richardson of Long & Foster Real Estate. "The rooms are a good size with high ceilings and easy furniture placement. The house needs some exterior paint, but [the buyers]

The sale of 6520 Banbury Road just north of the Baltimore City line for $425,000 proves that the right house for the right couple can come along when least expected. The seller of this Cape Cod in the Idlewylde neighborhood contacted realtor Ashley Richardson of Long & Foster Real Estate to see if she knew of anyone that would be interested in buying. "Two days later, I met a couple … who were newly married, and they told me what they were looking for," said Richardson. "I said, 'I think I have just the house.' " There was an initial visit, then a week passed.

Tudor charm is in abundance at 711 Chumleigh Road in the Baltimore County neighborhood of Stoneleigh. Sitting on almost a quarter of an acre, this white stucco home is being offered for $889,000. "This is one of the finest examples of a Stoneleigh home that has been lovingly renovated and restored," said listing agent Ashley Richardson with Long & Foster Real Estate. "Such incredible care was taken to perfect every detail, down to the repointing of the stonework, the slate roof on the addition and the copper flashing.

Instead of visiting country manor homes that are occasionally open to the public, here is an opportunity to own an estate in northern Baltimore County. Nestled on 50 acres of bucolic pastures and agricultural land, Alistatim Farm , in the heart of My Lady's Manor — a national historic district near Monkton — presents dramatic views for every season. Long summer days can be spent by the pool, while autumn mornings call out for a bit of competing in the dressage ring. "A seven-stall barn comes complete with hay storage, fly-spraying system and tack room," noted Ashley Richardson, a Long & Foster agent who listed the property.

By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest and Nancy Jones-Bonbrest,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | February 13, 2000

If you want to know what it's like to live in Wiltondale -- a neighborhood nestled within the greater Towson community -- just listen to Richard Peyton, who moved there 11 years ago. "My wife knew about the neighborhood because her aunt and uncle raised eight children here. She always said that someday we would live in Wiltondale," Peyton said. "We had friends that lived here, and they invited us down one day to the neighborhood pool for a crab feast. And that is really what sold us. What we saw that day was this incredible neighborhood feeling that was just so much a part of the party."

Nominations accepted for remodeling awards Maryland homeowners who hired a licensed contractor for a home improvement project this year can nominate their contractor for a Remodeler of the Year award. The Maryland Improvement Contractors Association recognizes workmanship in 12 remodeling categories, including residential kitchens (less than $25,000 and more than $50,000), residential baths (under $40,000 and over $40,000), residential interiors (under and over $40,000), residential exteriors (under and over $50,000)